KRUGER THE OBSTACLE TO PEACE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 144, 20 June 1899, Page 5

KRUGER THE OBSTACLE TO PEACE.

YOUNG.BOERS FAVOUR ENGLAND

Opinions of a south African

DIGNITARY,

The only obstacle to reform irt the Transvaal is the life of President Kruger, so thinks a high official in. South Africa (his'name for obvious reasons must be suppressed), who is a resident of the Transvaal, and has- the best possible opportunities and the' necessary, power of judgment to understand the undercurrents of Transvaal politics. Writing- to his sister, a lady resident in Sydney, from Pretoria, this gentleman maintains that President Kruger. and the ' few old fogies..' whom lie -has gathered' around him do not really represent the Boer spirit of toBay. In the days of Majuba Hill, Kruger was a representative Boer ; but eyen among1 these astonishingly long livers, the progress of time brings, a iiew generation to the front. . And the Blew type of Boer apes the fashions of proud England. He is secretly anxious to be. thought an Englishman, and in no way sympathises with the rugged Republicanism of his elders. ;

This is but natural. In education, in refinement, in habits of living, the English residents of the Transvaal and of the South African colonies generally are far superior to the Boer, farmers. The young- Boer is eager not to follow in his father's footsteps in a narrow groove of prejudice and bigotry. He sighs for the brighter life of the ' Uitlander,' and a decade hence the majority of the Transvaal natives-(such is the deliberate.opinion Of the gentleman whose views .we are quoting) will be pro-British in their sympathies. While Kruger is alive, however, there is not much possibility of a change. It is harder to .'change men than opinions. The .wily Old fellow has come to be looked upon as the personification of. the Transvaal Republic, "and just as if England were anxious for the abolition of the monarchy she would certainly wait for the demise of ; the present Queen - before giving any 'hint of the anxiety, so the .young Boers will not attempt to sHow their views by political action until Mynheer Krng-er's bones are at rest. * :.. ■■■■•■!.* '

Kruger is not (so far as this earth Is ..concerned) immortaL.: He is now a Very..'old man of particularly unhealthy, appearance. and Habits.: Kecognising the fact that., with his disappearance from the ' stage" of Transvaal polities a peaceful settlement of the difficulty •with .the .Republic .would be -easy, Great Britain is naturally now not at all anxious to force on trouble,: however urgent the, complaints of the Uife landers. Dr. Jameson's raid did much to; revive the old Boer spirit. The crushing of the Republic by fq>rce of arms would give England a' conquered ■but not a friendly people. The wisest course then (throughout we quote tlhe views of the South African dignitary). is to wait, if that is at all possible.